We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Aging Differences of Colored Microplastics and Their Adsorption Behavior towards Acesulfame
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how color affects the UV photoaging and chemical oxidation (K2S2O8 thermal activation) of microplastics, and how aging alters their adsorption of the artificial sweetener acesulfame. By combining surface morphology characterization, FTIR analysis, and adsorption kinetics and isotherm modeling, they found that color significantly influences both the aging process and the subsequent sorption behavior of aged microplastics.
This study investigated the aging behavior differences of MPs of different colors under UV light aging and thermal activation of K2S2O8 chemical oxidation, as well as their adsorption characteristics towards the artificial sweetener acesulfame. By simulating photoaging and chemical oxidation in the laboratory, and combining surface morphology, chemical structure, and adsorption kinetics/isotherm models, the impact of color on the aging process and the adsorption behavior of aged MPs were systematically assessed. The results showed that the aging effect of thermal activation of K2S2O8 was significantly better than that of UV light aging, with the CI of red PE increasing the most (photoaging: 0.0765; chemical oxidation: 0.1081), and the surface wrinkles and cracks increased, providing more adsorption sites. Color had a significant impact on photoaging, with red PE aging and fading more easily due to its light absorption characteristics, while black MPs had a lower degree of aging due to the shading effect and the action of antioxidants. Aging significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of PE for acesulfame, with the highest adsorption amount of PE treated by thermal activation of K2S2O8 (2.478 mg/g), which was 33.8% higher than that of the original PE. Adsorption kinetics indicated that the adsorption process of the original and photoaged PE conformed to the pseudo-first-order model (dominated by physical adsorption), while the PE treated by chemical oxidation conformed more to the pseudo-second-order model (synergistic effect of physical and chemical actions). Isotherm adsorption followed the Freundlich model, indicating a multilayer heterogeneous adsorption mechanism. This study revealed the regulatory effect of color on the aging behavior of MPs and clarified the mechanism by which the aging process enhanced the adsorption capacity for pollutants by changing surface physicochemical properties. It provides a theoretical basis for assessing the environmental risk of colored MPs and the migration and transformation of artificial sweeteners.
More Papers Like This
Insights into the Properties and Adsorption–desorption Behaviors of Aged Microplastics with Different Colors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers aged black tire wear particles and white polyethylene microplastics under UV light in the presence and absence of algal organic matter, finding that aging increased their adsorption capacity for the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride, with the degree of aging and adsorption behavior differing by particle color and composition. This reveals that weathered microplastics in real aquatic environments act as amplified vectors for antibiotic transport, posing compounded risks to aquatic ecosystems and potentially human health through contaminated water sources.
Identification of the degree of aging and adsorption behaviors of the naturally aged microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Used plastic packaging materials representing naturally aged microplastics showed varied degrees of surface oxidation and changes in carbonyl, hydroxyl, and ester groups, with aging degree strongly influencing adsorption behavior for both anionic and cationic dyes.
Adsorption–desorption behavior of methylene blue onto aged polyethylene microplastics in aqueous environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers photoaged polyethylene microplastics under xenon light and measured changes in surface properties and adsorption-desorption behavior for methylene blue dye, finding that aging increased surface oxidation, enhanced dye adsorption capacity, and altered desorption kinetics compared to virgin particles.
Adsorption behaviors of microplastics from packaging materials subjected to ultraviolet irradiation and microbial colonization
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how UV irradiation and microbial colonization alter the surface properties of microplastics from discarded packaging materials and their ability to adsorb pollutants. They found that aging processes changed surface chemistry and hydrophilicity, affecting how microplastics interact with contaminants like crystal violet dye through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, and hydrophobic interactions.
Mechanistic inferences from empirical and LSER modeling approaches concerning sorption of organic compounds by pristine and aged PE microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how UV-aging of polyethylene microplastics affects sorption of organic compounds including phenol, trichlorophenol, triclosan, and related compounds, using both empirical experiments and Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (LSER) modeling to reveal how aging-induced surface functional groups such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, and unsaturated bonds alter the sorption mechanisms.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.